Psalms 89:27

27 And I will make him the first-born, the highest of the kings of the earth.

Psalms 89:27 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 89:27

Also I will make him my firstborn
Or, "make him the firstborn"; make him great, as Jarchi interprets it; give him the blessing, the double portion of inheritance: so Christ is made most blessed for ever, and has all spiritual blessings in his hands; and is heir of all things, and his people joint-heirs with him. Christ is God's "firstborn", or "first begotten", ( Hebrews 1:6 ) , being begotten by him, and of him; and his firstbegotten, though none begotten after him; as the first that opened the womb, under the law, was called the firstborn, though none were ever born after; and in such sense his first begotten, as that he is his only begotten: and he is the firstborn, with respect to creatures; "he is the firstborn of every creature"; ( Colossians 1:15 ) , being begotten and brought forth before any creature was in being, ( Proverbs 8:22-25 ) , and, with respect to the saints, "he is the firstborn among many brethren", ( Romans 8:29 ) , they are of the same nature, and in the same family, and in which Christ is a son, and the firstborn; and in all things he has the preeminence; and he is also "the firstborn from the dead", or "the first begotten of the dead", ( Colossians 1:18 ) ( Revelation 1:5 ) being raised first from thence by his own power, and to an immortal life; and is the first fruits of them that sleep, and the efficient and meritorious cause of the resurrection of life, and the pattern and exemplar of it: even him the Father promises to make "higher than the kings of the earth"; having a kingdom of a superior nature to theirs, and a more extensive and durable one; and even they themselves shall be subject to him; hence he is called "King of kings", ( Revelation 19:16 ) . This will be when their kingdoms become his; when they shall fall down before him, and worship him, and bring their riches and glory into his kingdom, or the New Jerusalem church state, ( Psalms 72:10 Psalms 72:11 ) ( Revelation 11:15 ) ( 21:24 ) . This passage is interpreted of the Messiah by the Jews F6.


FOOTNOTES:

F6 In Shemot Rabba, s. 19. fol. 104. 4.

Psalms 89:27 In-Context

25 I will set his hand on the sea and his right hand on the rivers.
26 He shall cry to me, 'Thou art my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation.'
27 And I will make him the first-born, the highest of the kings of the earth.
28 My steadfast love I will keep for him for ever, and my covenant will stand firm for him.
29 I will establish his line for ever and his throne as the days of the heavens.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.